The Oakville new resident checklist

In the first week

• Look up your garbage, recycling and green-cart collection day Open
• Find your Oakville Transit routes and nearest stops, or your Ride On-Demand zone Open
• Get an Oakville Public Library card Open
• Set up a recreation account for pools, arenas and community-centre programs Open
• Find which ward you are in and who your councillors are Open
• Walk the nearest parks, playgrounds and trails Open
• Save the numbers for who to call: Town, Region, hydro and 911 Open

If you bought

• Set up your property tax account and note the instalment dates Open
• Before any renovation, check what needs a building permit Open
• Check your zoning before adding a unit, deck or accessory building Open
• Before removing a tree, check whether you need a permit Open
• Check whether the property is on the heritage register Open
• See what development is proposed near your address Open

If you rented

• Get the Ontario Standard Lease and read who pays which utilities Open
• Confirm the deposit is only last month's rent, never a damage or pet deposit Open
• Buy tenant (contents) insurance; the building's policy does not cover your things Open
• Photograph the unit's condition on the day you move in
• Save your landlord's contact details and how to request a repair Open
• Know the rent-increase rules: once a year, 90 days' notice, capped by the provincial guideline Open

Families and childcare

Licensed childcare and cost support are run by Halton Region, not the Town.

• Search Halton Region's licensed childcare and registered home childcare
• Ask about the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care fee reductions
• Check Halton's help with the cost of child care if you may qualify
• Register for before- and after-school care through your school board Open

Where each task points

The linked OakvilleIQ pages carry the detail and the official sources for each step. For the tasks that OakvilleIQ does not have a page for, set up directly with the provider: Oakville Hydro for electricity, Halton Region for childcare, and the Oakville Public Library for a card.